Cybersecurity · head to head
Microsoft Defender vs Termly
Microsoft Defender
Cybersecurity
Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices
- From
- $12/month
- Rated
- -
Termly
Cybersecurity
Legal policy generator and cookie consent banner for small websites
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Termly has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing; Termly a standard plan licenses one website, so an agency or a business with several brand domains multiplies the headline price by the number of sites and the cheap option stops being cheap at four or five domains.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender and Termly actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Defender | Termly |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $12/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | Per website per month |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Microsoft Defender
Nothing recorded that Termly does not also cover.
Only in Termly
- Policy generator
- Automatic policy updates
- Consent banner
- Script auto blocker
- Cookie scanner
- Consent log
- WordPress plugin
- Do not sell handling
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot Termly
- Identity and access securitynot Termly
- Email threat protectionnot Termly
- SaaS application security monitoringnot Termly
Termly
- A small e-commerce shop that needs a privacy policy, terms and a compliant cookie banner before launch without engaging a solicitornot Microsoft Defender
- A freelance web developer standardising the legal and consent layer across client sites, buying a licence per site or an agency arrangementnot Microsoft Defender
- A WordPress site owner who needs scripts blocked before consent and does not have a tag manager set upnot Microsoft Defender
- A US small business newly in scope for a state privacy law that needs a do not sell opt-out on the site quicklynot Microsoft Defender
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Microsoft Defender
- Defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing
- Some Defender products use pay-as-you-go pricing with variable costs
- Prices vary based on Microsoft agreements, requiring sales contact for custom quotes
Termly
- A standard plan licenses one website, so an agency or a business with several brand domains multiplies the headline price by the number of sites and the cheap option stops being cheap at four or five domains.
- Generated policies are templates conditioned on questionnaire answers, so they describe the data practices you claimed rather than the ones your code performs, and a regulator comparing the policy to actual tracking finds the gap not the vendor.
- Banner view limits apply on the lower tiers, and a site that spikes in traffic can exhaust its allowance mid month, which is the worst possible moment for consent handling to degrade.
- It covers websites well but has little for mobile apps, so a company with an iOS and Android app alongside its site needs a second consent mechanism and a second consent record.
- There is no data mapping, subject rights automation or vendor inventory, so any company that grows into real privacy programme obligations outgrows Termly entirely rather than upgrading within it.
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft Defender
$12/month- Microsoft Defender Suite$12/month
- Endpoint protection
- Identity threat detection
- Email security
- Microsoft 365 E5 with Defender$60/month
- Includes Defender Suite
- Microsoft Teams included
- Comprehensive security and compliance
- Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management Add-on$2/month
- Vulnerability scanning and management
- One-month free trial available
- Annual commitment required
Termly
Free- FreeFree
- 1 basic legal policy
- 10,000 monthly banner views
- Cookie consent banner
- Starter$10/month
- 2 legal policies
- 10 policy edits
- 50,000 monthly banner views
- Pro Plus$15/month
- Unlimited banner views
- Additional legal policies
- Multilingual banners
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from Termly on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose Termly if
- You need policy generator.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want automatic policy updates.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Defender or Termly better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Termly at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender or Termly?
- Termly has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $12/month for Microsoft Defender and Free for Termly.
- Does Microsoft Defender or Termly run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Termly for free?
- Yes. Termly has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month.
- What is Microsoft Defender best used for?
- Microsoft Defender is most often used for endpoint security and threat protection, identity and access security, email threat protection, saas application security monitoring. Of those, endpoint security and threat protection and identity and access security are not what Termly is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Defender do that Termly cannot?
- Termly covers Policy generator, Automatic policy updates, Consent banner, Script auto blocker.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Microsoft Defender: How much does Microsoft Defender Suite cost?
Microsoft Defender Suite costs $12/user/month (paid yearly), but requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing. It includes endpoint protection, identity threat detection, email security, and SaaS application monitoring.
SourceTermly: Does one Termly plan cover all my websites?
No. A standard plan licenses one website. Multiple domains need multiple licences or an agency arrangement, and this is the single most common surprise on the bill.
Microsoft Defender: What add-ons are available for Microsoft Defender?
Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management Add-on costs $2/user/month with annual commitment and includes a one-month free trial. Additional pay-as-you-go products include External Attack Surface Management, Cloud Security Posture Management, and Sentinel.
SourceTermly: Are the generated policies legally sufficient?
They are templates conditioned on your answers and are not legal advice. They are proportionate for a simple site and inadequate where actual data flows are complex or regulated.
Microsoft Defender: Is Defender included in Microsoft 365 E5?
Yes, Microsoft Defender Suite is included in Microsoft 365 E5 at $60/user/month (paid yearly with Teams). Prices may vary based on Microsoft agreements, requiring contact with Sales for customized quotes.
SourceTermly: Is there a genuinely free plan?
Yes, one basic policy, one site, 10,000 monthly banner views and quarterly cookie scans, with no card required.
Termly: Does it handle US state privacy opt-outs?
Yes, including a do not sell or share mechanism and regional rule sets, alongside GDPR consent for EU visitors.
Related pages
More on Microsoft Defender
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